The former Jigawa state Governor, Saminu Turaki who is facing corruption charges, Tuesday, was granted permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of a Federal High Court, Abuja, granted the permission following the application filed by defendant’s counsel, Olusegun Jolawo, asking for the release of Turaki’s travel documents.
After being re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and granted bail on charges bordering on money laundering, the former Governor has appeared in court again asking for the release of his international passport.
Through his lawyer, the former Governor filed an application asking the court to release his international passport to enable him travel for a medical appointment in Singapore.
Responding to the application, prosecution counsel did not raise an objection to the application but asked the trial Judge to use his discretion on whether to grant the request or not.
In a short ruling, Justice Dimgba ordered that the defendant’s international passport be eleased, to enable him travel for the medical treatment.
The Judge further ordered that the former Governor must produce a serving Senator who will guarantee that he will return to Nigeria before the end of court’s vacation to face his trial.
The trial of Turaki had earlier been adjourned till September 20 and he is expected to return to court on the adjourned date.
It would be recalled that Justice Dimgba had on July 18, upon the former Governor’s re arraignment, agreed with most of the bail conditions earlier set by Justice Yusuf Haliru of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The Judge also cautioned the EFCC on the need to always observe the rule of law and stressed that there is a presumption of innocence for an accused until proven guilty.
He granted Turaki bail and subsequently adjourned the case to September 19, for commencement of trial.
Saminu Turaki was arrested by EFCC on July 4 at a book launch in Abuja and remanded in EFCC custody.
On July 13, 2017, Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal High Court Abuja admitted him to bail but the commission refused to release him even after he had fulfilled the bail conditions. Consequently, his lawyers proceeded to file contempt proceedings against the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu at the Federal High Court Abuja.
The case was heard on July 20 and adjourned to the September 28 for commencement of trial.